Gary Sherman

Gary E. Sherman (born May 5, 1949) is a retired American lawyer and Democratic politician from Bayfield County, Wisconsin. He served nine years as a judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in the Madison-based 4th district (2010–2019). He previously served 11 years as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 74th Assembly district from 1999 to 2010, and was president of the State Bar of Wisconsin from 1994 to 1995.

Early life and education Gary Sherman was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Chicago's A. G. Lane Technical High School in 1966 and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While in college, Sherman became active with several protest movements that were popular on campus at the time, joining in a sit-in to demand the university establish an ethnic studies program in 1967. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in history in 1970.

Following that election loss, Sherman received a call from George Brown, the State Bar's lobbyist in Madison, who informed him that the state representative in his home district was retiring. Sherman entered the contest for the Democratic Party nomination in the 74th Assembly district. Name recognition from his recent judicial campaign helped him in the Democratic primary, where he defeated two opponents, receiving 40% of the vote. He went on to receive 57% in the general election, defeating the Republican candidate, attorney Thomas Duffy. Sherman would win re-election five times.

In 2009, Judge Burnie Bridge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals announced he would step down at the end of the year. Governor Jim Doyle announced that he would seek applicants for the appointment, and Sherman decided to put his name. After an extensive interview process, Doyle named Sherman as successor to Bridge. Sherman formally took up the seat on May 12, 2010, resigning from the Assembly the same day. Sherman described his work on the Court of Appeals as the hardest work of his life. He served most of that term, but announced his retirement in 2019, leaving office July 4 of that year.

Later years Since leaving office, he has worked as a part time court commissioner in Bayfield County, though he spends a significant amount of time in Tucson, Arizona.